Our Team

Our team has a combined experience of almost 50 years in the trading / export industry. We’ve built our business based on strong relationships, collaborating and adapting to meet the needs of our suppliers and customers, and our passion to succeed in delivering premium New Zealand produce and specialty products worldwide.

Russell Faulkner

Managing Director

Russell is the Managing Director of Fresh Produce Group and Sea Fresh Trading Co. and has over 27 years of international produce trading experience based in USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Born and bred in Canterbury on a mixed cropping farm, Russell graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and Management from Lincoln University.

Russell lives in Tauranga with wife Morag and three children, Benjamin, Alexandra and Isabella. In his spare time he tries to fit in some running and swimming, with the aim of doing a triathlon soon. He also enjoys watching rugby and supporting his family in their chosen sports.

Duncan Rutherford

Export Manager

Duncan is responsible for global sales and developing new business in our key markets. He is also the driving force behind Sea Fresh Trading Co. a partner company launched in 2016, marketing premium NZ seafood worldwide.

He has over 13 years’ experience marketing both produce and seafood in New Zealand and overseas.

Whilst the majority of his life has been spent in Auckland, Duncan moved from Auckland to Tauranga with his wife Kristy and three children (Sarah, Olivia and Isabel) in January 2016 and hasn’t looked back! When he’s not working, Duncan enjoys spending time with his family or playing (the occasional game of) golf.

Jamie Yates

Sales and Marketing

Jamie is the latest addition to the team, responsible for sales and marketing. Jamie is now based in Auckland and oversees our quality control process.

Born and bred in Tauranga, he attended St. Peter's School in Cambridge for his secondary years. Jamie was one of New Zealand's top ranked junior tennis players and after graduating from St Peter's received a scholarship to the University of South Carolina Upstate, where he played Division one tennis and completed a four-year degree in Business Administration majoring in Marketing. Jamie has worked in the USA produce industry for a period of time.

When he has spare time, Jamie still competes at a high-level playing tennis, but also loves surfing, snowboarding, golf and playing the guitar.

Caryl Combe

Shipping and Administration/Accounts

Caryl is responsible for the shipping and administration/accounts aspect of our business, and has been with the company since it commenced in 2010.

Her career started in the banking industry, initially in customer service roles before specialising in the trade finance (importing and exporting) sector. After living and working in Auckland, then Christchurch, Caryl took some time out to focus on her family and raise her two young children, Ebony and Janelle. After spending time in Sydney, Caryl and her family returned to live in Auckland, and soon after returned to work in accounts and administration roles.

Caryl is now settled in Greenhithe with husband Phil. Her now adult children – one from North Harbour and the other a Cantabrian definitely make the rugby season interesting! Spare time is spent doing crafts, socialising or visiting the girls, who are currently based in Timaru and Hamilton.

Ross Moffat

Director

Ross is a chartered accountant and director of Fresh Produce Group with over 26 years business experience. Ross also has a number of other business interests with his focus being the financial and risk management aspects of those businesses.

Ross has spent most of his life in Canterbury where he lives with his family. His school aged children keep him busy most of the time with biking, swimming, basketball, horses, motorbiking, snow skiing, boating, you name it they are into it.

Mark Tavendale

Director

Mark is the founding partner of Tavendale and Partners who is highly regarded for his strategic advice.

Mark is highly experienced in all aspects of commercial law, his specific expertise is in the primary and agribusiness sectors with considerable expertise in the sale and purchase of large and complex farming operations, succession planning, New Zealand's overseas investment laws and high country tenure reviews.

He also owns, with his family, one of New Zealand’s largest blackcurrant growing operations.